27 March 2026
In response to UCU's media statement, Raj Jethwa, UCEA Chief Executive said:
“A fair and sustainable approach to pensions is urgent as HE institutions in TPS face substantial financial challenges which have been exacerbated by the extraordinary increases in employer pension contributions*.
“All in the sector and beyond know that post-92 and many specialist institutions face a competitive disadvantage because of this mandated TPS participation, with employers paying TPS contributions of nearly 30%. UCU must acknowledge that this is a significant cause of financial distress, increasing the risk of institutional failure and closure – as well as being expensive for staff. These issues lead UCU’s own campaigning priorities.
“Targeting HE institutions without understanding the reasons and urgency for addressing TPS restrictions is unhelpful and unfair. UCEA has a duty to explore all the options available for the future and will continue to lobby for urgent change while UCU has not considered realistic alternatives to this beyond the recent request for financial subsidy.
“HE institutions strive to be employers of choice and this includes offering competitive pensions as part of their overall reward package.”
Notes
* In January 2026, UCEA published a Position Paper: Financial Stability in Higher Education: Enabling a Sustainable Approach to Pension Provision arguing that the excessive employer contribution rates paid by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) into TPS are exacerbating the sector’s current financial pressures. The mandated use of TPS, which the paper argues offers poor value for money for HEIs, increases the risk of institutional failure and closure.
UCEA has been lobbying Government since 2018 for support for member HEIs.
For letters to Government Ministers and more information on our work around TPS see our Public Service Pension Schemes webpage.
ENDS
For further UCEA information please contact Andy Fryer, Head of Communications and Membership (a.fryer@ucea.ac.uk), Marc Whittaker, Public Affairs and Events Manager (m.whittaker@ucea.ac.uk), Armelle Griffin, Communications Officer (a.griffin@ucea.ac.uk), or Ashleigh Rigden, Communications Officer (a.rigden@ucea.ac.uk)
In response to UCU's media statement, Raj Jethwa, UCEA Chief Executive said:
“A fair and sustainable approach to pensions is urgent as HE institutions in TPS face substantial financial challenges which have been exacerbated by the extraordinary increases in employer pension contributions*.
“All in the sector and beyond know that post-92 and many specialist institutions face a competitive disadvantage because of this mandated TPS participation, with employers paying TPS contributions of nearly 30%. UCU must acknowledge that this is a significant cause of financial distress, increasing the risk of institutional failure and closure – as well as being expensive for staff. These issues lead UCU’s own campaigning priorities.
“Targeting HE institutions without understanding the reasons and urgency for addressing TPS restrictions is unhelpful and unfair. UCEA has a duty to explore all the options available for the future and will continue to lobby for urgent change while UCU has not considered realistic alternatives to this beyond the recent request for financial subsidy.
“HE institutions strive to be employers of choice and this includes offering competitive pensions as part of their overall reward package.”
Notes
* In January 2026, UCEA published a Position Paper: Financial Stability in Higher Education: Enabling a Sustainable Approach to Pension Provision arguing that the excessive employer contribution rates paid by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) into TPS are exacerbating the sector’s current financial pressures. The mandated use of TPS, which the paper argues offers poor value for money for HEIs, increases the risk of institutional failure and closure.
UCEA has been lobbying Government since 2018 for support for member HEIs.
For letters to Government Ministers and more information on our work around TPS see our Public Service Pension Schemes webpage.
ENDS
For further UCEA information please contact Andy Fryer, Head of Communications and Membership (a.fryer@ucea.ac.uk), Marc Whittaker, Public Affairs and Events Manager (m.whittaker@ucea.ac.uk), Armelle Griffin, Communications Officer (a.griffin@ucea.ac.uk), or Ashleigh Rigden, Communications Officer (a.rigden@ucea.ac.uk)
